school age
The birth of POP
The POP concept was born when Loren was pregnant with her first child.“ I realised that nothing truly prepares us for parenthood,” she reflects.
While there are countless resources on physical preparation – manuals on nursing, sleep routines, and schedules – Loren felt there was very little that prepared parents mentally for the enormous shift ahead.“ There was no real guide to help us think about our thinking. That’ s where this journey began: developing a more conscious way of thinking.”
She noticed that many parents default to the way they themselves were parented.“ It’ s like replaying the same tape over and over again. But we rarely stop to ask:‘ Is this how I want to parent? What do I actually believe, and where do those beliefs come from?’”
Her work is about breaking that cycle – moving from self-limiting beliefs to empowering ones.“ That’ s what helps us unlock our potential, which I call POP: Power, Optimism, and Perseverance.”
“... we rarely stop to ask:‘ Is this how I want to parent? What do I actually believe, and where do those beliefs come from?’”
Loren hopes to reach 10 000 South African families in the final quarter of 2026.“ We can’ t medicate our way out of this mindset crisis,” she says.“ But we can literally rewire both our own and our children’ s brains for possibility. When children understand that their thoughts create their reality, everything changes.”
Final takeaway for parents
If Loren could leave parents with one word, it would be this: awareness.
“ Everything starts with becoming aware of our thinking. Once we notice our thoughts, we can begin to change them. And here is a simple, practical reframe: when you catch yourself saying“ I can’ t”, add one small word –“ yet”.“ I can’ t” feels final.“ I can’ t yet” keeps the door open. It reminds us, and our children, that we’ re always in the process of learning.”
Make Your Brain POP is available at Exclusive Books stores nationwide and online, priced at R260. This book includes age-appropriate exercises,“ Brain Pops”, which offer practical activities for children aged 4 – 18. �
The POP framework
Based on cutting-edge neuroscience research, the POP methodology teaches three critical mindsets.
P is for Power: This is about accessing our inner power by examining our belief systems – questioning what we believe, where those beliefs come from, and reframing self-limiting thoughts into empowering ones.“ It also involves understanding how the brain works,” Loren says.“ Once we understand that, we realise just how powerful we are. Through neuroplasticity, our brains are able to change and adapt. By shifting our thinking and habits, we can literally rewire our brains.”
O is for Optimism: This is about possibility thinking – not toxic positivity.“ It’ s about holding two truths at once:
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‘ This is hard, and I can do hard things.’ It’ s a learned skill – navigating challenges and turning obstacles into opportunities,” she explains.
P is for Perseverance:“ This is about what I call‘ productive struggle’,” Loren says. It’ s about continuing even when things feel difficult.“ This part of the framework teaches both adults and children how to persevere, focusing on effort rather than outcomes. It’ s about valuing the process, not just the result.”
This framework became the foundation of Loren’ s book and the POP Mindset ™ workshops. In it, she translates complex brain science into practical strategies that even six-year-olds can understand and apply, while giving parents the language to reinforce a growth mindset at home.
POP workshops
Loren also hosts POP Mindset ™ workshops, tailored to three distinct audiences:
Parents:
Teachers:
Corporates:
The Parents POP ™ masterclass guides parents through rewiring their children’ s mindsets for possibility.
The Teachers POP ™ workshop offers deep dives into classroom neuroscience and practical growth mindset strategies.
The Pros POP ™ masterclass helps teams unlock their collective potential through the same neuroscience principles that underpin the book.
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